Its Dallas and the megadopler warning us the storm of the century is on its way to Duarte and we live in the ground zero area for mudslides.  So, pack up the trailer and head for the desert.

QUARTZSITE:  We notice right away, something is wrong.  We are a bit late for the big crowds but we find much of the area closed down and parking is plenty.  So, we head onto BLM land and set up camp.  Vendors later tell us the crowd this year was disappointing and blame it on the Canadians going to Mexico instead of Arizona.

MORNING ARRIVES AND WE HEAD INTO TOWN TO LOOK FOR THOSE GREAT GOODIES THAT QUARTZSITE IS FAMOUS FOR, SUCH THINGS AS SKULLS AND ROCKS! AND I HAVE TO VISIT MY FRIEND PAUL WEINER, THE BRILLIANT BOOK MAN, ENTERTAINER AND GLUE THAT HOLDS QUARTZSITE TOGETHER. OH, AND HE IS A NUDIST – OBVIOUSLY. ONLY IN QUARTZSITE!

GOING INTO TOWN WE STOP AT THE HI JOLLY MEMORIAL AND FIND THE AREA HAS BEEN EXPANDED AND IS NOW SURROUNDED BY A CEMETERY WHERE WE SPEND TIME READING HEAD STONES AND THINKING ABOUT THE UNIQUE HISTORY OF THIS ARIZONA TOWN.

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OK, ENOUGH QUARTZSITE SO AFTER A NIGHT AT THE BLUE WATER CASINO RV PARK IN PARKER WE ARE OFF TO LAKE HAVASU FOR THE NOT MY PRESIDENT WEEKEND. THE CRAZY HORSE CAMPGROUND WAS VERY NICE AND VERY FULL BUT THEY SQUEEZED US IN ALMOST LAKESIDE. A STORM CAME THROUGH BUT THE FESTIVITIES CONTINUED – FLEA MARKET, ROCKABILLY CONCERT, FIRE WORKS, BOAT ACROSS THE LAKE TO THE CASINO ON THE CALIFORNIA SIDE AND DINNER WITH A VIEW OF THE LONDON BRIDGE.

WE HEAD HOME BUT STOP FOR THE NIGHT AT THE SALTON SEA. NOT AS MANY BIRDS AS WE USUALLY SEE HERE, AND THE SUNSET WAS NOT AS SPECTACULAR AS IT USUALLY IS, BUT WE COOKED A MEAN RIB EYE AND WATCHED THE DESERT COLORS DARKEN AND THEN THE SKY SHOW TOOK OVER.

ABOVE I’M SITTING ON A TABLE THAT IS COVERED IN BARNACLES. LAST TIME WE WERE HERE IT WAS NEARLY UNDERWATER. THE SAGA OF THE SALTON SEA IS A SAD ONE BUT HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL SAVE IT.